Thousands of students, alumni, families and fans packed the University of Memphis campus Friday night for ROARFest, a Halloween-themed block party and pep rally that kicked off Homecoming Weekend 2026 ahead of Saturday's showdown against Army. The free celebration mixed food trucks, games and giveaways with a dose of trick-or-treating, setting the stage for a holiday weekend that doubles as the school's Parent and Family Weekend.
According to the University of Memphis, this year's ROARFest got a festive new twist with a family-friendly Halloween Block Party and Pep Rally, and the event was free and open to the entire community. The Mighty Sound of the South marching band and the Memphis Spirit Squads rallied the crowd, while attendees could meet members of the 2026 Homecoming Court as a live DJ kept a dance party going into the night, per the university's event listing.
Families enjoyed kid-friendly activities and Tent-or-Treat festivities, adding a Halloween spin to a tradition that has quickly become a campus staple. Sophomore and Homecoming princess candidate Madison Nolan said the event helps bring everyone together, telling FOX13 Memphis that ROARFest brings the committee together and heightens Tiger spirit. Nolan also said she was excited for the Tigers to win on Saturday.
From Parade to Pep Rally, a New Homecoming Tradition Sticks
ROARFest isn't a one-off experiment. The university introduced the event in 2025 as a replacement for its longtime Homecoming parade, with organizers describing it at the time as a way to bring students, alumni and the community together right on campus for music, food and Tiger spirit, according to Action News 5. The inaugural ROAR Fest ran on Friday, October 24, 2025, and folded in Parents' Weekend alongside the usual Homecoming festivities, the station's coverage noted. Last year's event led into a Saturday matchup against South Florida that kicked off at 11 a.m., a far cry from this year's Halloween-night start time.
Once again, the university is combining Homecoming with Parent and Family Weekend for 2026, running the full celebration from Oct. 26 through Oct. 31. That overlap means the ROARFest crowd this year included plenty of visiting parents alongside the usual mix of students and alumni filling out campus for the holiday stretch.
Army Visits Memphis for Rare Homecoming Matchup
Saturday's football game carries its own historical weight. Memphis and Army meet for just the sixth time ever, and for the first time since Nov. 23, 2002, according to Memphis Athletics. The Tigers enter the Halloween-night clash at 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the American Conference, while Army arrives at 5-2 overall and 4-1 in the league, per the same source.
Kickoff at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is set for 7 p.m., and the university will mark the occasion with Hero Day, recognizing military service members, veterans and first responders for their service and sacrifice. Fans are encouraged to wear black for the occasion, the athletic department's game-day guide notes.
Tailgating, Parking and Shuttle Details for Game Day
Fans planning to arrive early can take part in a Tailgate and Treat event on Tiger Lane, where tailgaters are invited to decorate their spaces and hand out candy. Parking lots at the stadium open at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and the athletic department is again offering a free game-day shuttle service for fans, students, faculty and staff, all logistics confirmed through the university's game-day updates page.
With ROARFest behind them and a rare opponent on the schedule, the Tigers now turn their attention to closing out Homecoming Weekend with a win in front of a hometown crowd. Between the Halloween costumes, the marching band and the military tributes planned for Hero Day, Saturday's game caps a week built around campus pride as much as the scoreboard.
